GET SMART REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Better than it deserves to be
MPAA Rating: PG-13

Maxwell Smart returns!

Director: Peter Segal
Cast: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin, Dwayne Johnson, Terrence Stamp, David Koechner, James Caan, Masi Oka & Nate Torrance
Screenplay: Tom J. Astle & Matt Ember
Based on Characters Created by: Mel Brooks & Buck Henry
Studio: Warner Brothers

On paper, this should be a terrible movie. TV-to-movie translations have a really bad track record, Steve Carell has not yet broken the wall to become a bankable leading man, and Dwayne Johnson’s involvement automatically makes every movie he’s in 37 percent less enjoyable. (In this way, he is the anti-Samuel L. Jackson.) But in spite of these factors (perhaps even because these factors dropped my expectations to the absolute rock bottom), I found myself enjoying this film much more than I expected to.

In Get Smart, Carell reprises the role of Maxwell Smart (made famous on the TV show by Don Adams), an analyst for the secret government agency called CONTROL who desperately wants to be promoted to field agent. It’s not until a break-in at CONTROL headquarters by the threatening agency called KAOS that he’s paired off with the top-ranked Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) and sent on a mission to prove himself.

There are several segments that are relatively faithful to the spirit of the TV show, and those are probably the funniest bits of the film. Although there’s lots of slapstick, this isn’t a dumb movie, and that goes especially for the portrayal of Maxwell Smart. It would have been easy (and, frankly, expected) for the character to be painted as a buffoon who succeeds through luck rather than skill, but the movie doesn’t take the easy route. Although Max is goofy and sometimes a bit of a klutz, he is not incompetent. In fact, there are several scenes where he actually proves quite effective, and believably so (at least in the universe of the film). A dumb Max would have killed this movie, but Carell playing him as a slightly stiffer version of his character from The Office saves it.

As far as the rest of the cast, Hathaway has quite successfully made the transition from teen princess to adult actress, and is actually funny here. Alan Arkin is great as the Chief, and Masi Oka (from Heroes) and Nate Torrance steal a few scenes as goofy technicians who have Max’s back (which is something else that helps this movie break the mold: Max actually has friends). Terrence Stamp, our Big Bad, clearly enjoys chewing the scenery. Fans of the TV show will find lots of little throwaway notes from them, including virtually every running gag the series featured: the shoe phone, Max’s trademark lines (you know what they are), and a surprise celebrity cameo as Agent 13. You could almost -- almost -- feel the flavor of Mel Brooks's comedy thumbprint when the film was at its best.

There are a few problems with the movie. Dwayne Johnson, sadly, still plays the same smarmy, obnoxious character he’s played in every frame of celluloid ever to feature him, and James Caan’s President character is one stale joke after another – he didn’t solicit a single laugh in the entire film in the audience I saw it with. The film occasionally loses its charm when it goes for a particularly cheap joke – a gag about a vomit bag is terrible, and occasional references to Max previously having been fat are both stupid and unnecessary for the story.

The problems don’t ruin the movie, but they did lessen my enjoyment and pull the overall score down. Still, it was better than I thought it would be, and that enough is quite a surprise. Yeah, it's highly predictable -- even many of the individual jokes are predictable, but it was at least fun most of the time. I’m not going to tell anyone to run out and see the movie, but it’s probably at least worth a rental somewhere down the line. It’s certainly the funniest movie I’ve seen so far this summer… not that it’s had much competition.

Rating:

[Bucfan]

I have to ask, if it looked so bad going in, why shell out the $10 to see it?

Carrell did well in 40 Year Old Virgin.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Bucfan

I have to ask, if it looked so bad going in, why shell out the $10 to see it?

Carrell did well in 40 Year Old Virgin.

Long story, but it involves driving an hour and a half, missing what we actually intended to do, but not wanting to just turn around and go home.

I thought 40-Year-Old Virgin was horribly overrated.

[Ryan Broussard]

disagree...

Carell....is the one that has fallen into that trap of playing the same character.....

His best characters are in the Office and 40 year old virgin (still his best performance to date)

Johnson playing the same cocky guy.........not really......he has come pretty far as an actor, from being a dad, to a bad guy, to a average joe....I really liked his character in walk hard........he wasn't cocky at all in that role....

I fell asleep in this movie for a good 10 minutes........

Carell should stick with the office because that is his bread and butter and every character he does is becoming Micheal Scott on some level, and that is not good....

[Blake Petit]

Yeah, Carell was channeling his Michael Scott persona, and I said as much in the review. But he's also demonstrated a lot of range as an actor -- go check out Little Miss Sunshine or Dan in Real Life. Couldn't be more different than Maxwell Smart or Michael Scott.

I've never seen Johnson play anything but himself. Himself as a bad guy, himself as a dad, himself as a (shudder) gay cowboy. It's the same schtick over and over again. To be fair, I didn't see Walk Hard, and I didn't know he was in it, either...

[Ryan Broussard]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Yeah, Carell was channeling his Michael Scott persona, and I said as much in the review. But he's also demonstrated a lot of range as an actor -- go check out Little Miss Sunshine or Dan in Real Life. Couldn't be more different than Maxwell Smart or Michael Scott.

I've never seen Johnson play anything but himself. Himself as a bad guy, himself as a dad, himself as a (shudder) gay cowboy. It's the same schtick over and over again. To be fair, I didn't see Walk Hard, and I didn't know he was in it, either...

dan in real life and Little miss sunshine are amazing.....however, I find that when he does comedy...like straight comedy, he only has one way to do it

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Ryan Broussard

dan in real life and Little miss sunshine are amazing.....however, I find that when he does comedy...like straight comedy, he only has one way to do it

His "purer" comedies (with the exception of 40 Year Old Virgin) have been kind of one-note, I agree. But I think he's capable of more.

[Bucfan]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Long story, but it involves driving an hour and a half, missing what we actually intended to do, but not wanting to just turn around and go home.

I thought 40-Year-Old Virgin was horribly overrated.

That explains it. Glad it wasn't a complete loss.


The 40 Year Old Virgin is one of the best adult comedies in years. It's not brillant film making, but it's very funny with likable characters.

[Bucfan]

Originally Posted by Ryan Broussard

dan in real life and Little miss sunshine are amazing.....however, I find that when he does comedy...like straight comedy, he only has one way to do it

The guy's a good actor. He plays the funny but in pain guy well. Most comedians are one note. Mike Meyers, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler are all big stars, but are rarely going to surprise anyone.

[Ryan Broussard]

Originally Posted by Bucfan

The guy's a good actor. He plays the funny but in pain guy well. Most comedians are one note. Mike Meyers, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler are all big stars, but are rarely going to surprise anyone.

that is very true

[thegrayone]

I think Carell' best movie is Dan's real life...IMO.

As for the rock? how can you say that every movie he is becomes 37% less enjoyable? I think it is the other way around...as a matter of fact, a movie with Samuel Jackson in it, I will think long a hard before watching it.

To me, The rock is more versatile than Samuel, he is funny, can do drama and action, unlike others that only play one character, like Diesel, Danzel...

[Justin Byrd]

Originally Posted by thegrayone

I think Carell' best movie is Dan's real life...IMO.

As for the rock? how can you say that every movie he is becomes 37% less enjoyable? I think it is the other way around...as a matter of fact, a movie with Samuel Jackson in it, I will think long a hard before watching it.

To me, The rock is more versatile than Samuel, he is funny, can do drama and action, unlike others that only play one character, like Diesel, Danzel...

Dwayne Johnson is more versatile than Sam Jackson? I've seen Jackson play everything from a hard*** to a Jedi to a meek weakling to goofy cop.

Sorry, that doesn't fly...I mean, I don't think Johnson is that bad (honestly I think he's got enough charisma to actually make it in Hollywood) but I don't think he has the chops to lick Jackson's boots (to be fair, few do though).

[thegrayone]

Originally Posted by Justin Byrd

Dwayne Johnson is more versatile than Sam Jackson? I've seen Jackson play everything from a hard*** to a Jedi to a meek weakling to goofy cop.

Sorry, that doesn't fly...I mean, I don't think Johnson is that bad (honestly I think he's got enough charisma to actually make it in Hollywood) but I don't think he has the chops to lick Jackson's boots (to be fair, few do though).

If you say so, I guess to each its own. I'm not saying that Dwayne Johnson is a Will Smith, but to me he cuts it better than Jackson.

[Zap Rowsdower]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

I've never seen Johnson play anything but himself. Himself as a bad guy, himself as a dad, himself as a (shudder) gay cowboy. It's the same schtick over and over again.

I recently said the same thing about another famous actor and got really raked over the coals for it....

Anywhoo, I'm a big wrestling fan. Can you believe I've never seen a Dwayne Johnson movie? Or even a Dwayne Johnson match to be honest.

[Orb]

This movie was one of the better comedies this year, and it was still rather boring. Lots of re-tread bits.

Steve Carell's best performances are in the office and that weather guy in Anchorman.

I think he is better suited to be the funny guy in dramas like Little Miss Sunshine.

[PinchyWearO]

Originally Posted by Justin Byrd

Dwayne Johnson is more versatile than Sam Jackson? I've seen Jackson play everything from a hard*** to a Jedi to a meek weakling to goofy cop.

I love Jackson, but he often plays himself in different roles as well. I thought he was a horrible choice for Star Wars because he was Sam Jackson in a robe.

[Justin Byrd]

Originally Posted by PinchyWearO

I love Jackson, but he often plays himself in different roles as well. I thought he was a horrible choice for Star Wars because he was Sam Jackson in a robe.

I thought he was against type in that role honestly. He was all reserved....but that's my opinion, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Get Smart!

[Mark Blicharz]

As a huge fan of the tv show, this movie was a let down. The only good thing about it is Anne Hathaway. Steve Carrel is boring and not very funny to me. But at least he's not Will Farrel or Jimmy Fallon. Those two make me want to take a very hot and sharp poker and stab myself in the eyes and ears just to make it stop.

[Richard Davidson, Jr.]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Dwayne Johnson[/b]’s involvement automatically makes every movie he’s in 37 percent less enjoyable. (In this way, he is the anti-Samuel L. Jackson.) But in spite of these factors (perhaps even because these factors dropped my expectations to the absolute rock bottom), I found myself enjoying this film much more than I expected to.

Dwayne Johnson... Rock Bottom... It sounds like someone is either a wrestling fan or went for a really big pun.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Richard Davidson, Jr.

Dwayne Johnson... Rock Bottom... It sounds like someone is either a wrestling fan or went for a really big pun.

Um... neither, actually. I didn't even think of the pun potential until you pointed it out.